Revolver bypass valve

Abstract

A bypass valve includes a base defining a base sealing surface, the base defining a upstream utility bore, a downstream utility bore, a meter inlet bore, and a meter outlet bore each extending into the base sealing surface; and a selector defining a selector sealing surface positioned in sealing engagement with the base sealing surface, the selector defining a primary passage and a secondary passage, the selector defining at least one primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the primary passage, the selector defining at least one secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the secondary passage, the selector being rotatable relative to the base about and between a meter position and a bypass position, the selector connecting the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter inlet bore in the meter position.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bypass valve comprising:
 a base defining:
 a base sealing surface; 
 an upstream utility bore; 
 a downstream utility bore; 
 a meter inlet bore; and 
 a meter outlet bore; and 
 
 a selector rotatable relative to the base between a meter position and a bypass position, the selector defining:
 a selector sealing surface positioned in sealing engagement with the base sealing surface; 
 a primary passage defining a primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface; 
 a secondary passage defining a secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface, wherein:
 in the meter position, the selector connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter inlet bore; and 
 in the bypass position, the selector connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the downstream utility bore. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The bypass valve of  claim 1 , wherein the base is cylindrical and forms a cylindrical perimeter surface, and wherein at least one of the upstream utility bore, the primary passage bore, and the secondary passage bore defines an axis positioned parallel to a rotational axis of a rotation of the selector relative to the base. 
     
     
       3. The bypass valve of  claim 1 , wherein a valve cavity extends into a front end of the base to the base sealing surface, and the selector is positioned within the valve cavity. 
     
     
       4. The bypass valve of  claim 1 , wherein the base is cylindrical and forms a cylindrical sidewall sealing surface, and further comprising an outer O-ring extending circumferentially around the selector and forming a seal with the sidewall sealing surface extending from the base sealing surface of the base. 
     
     
       5. The bypass valve of  claim 1 , wherein the base is cylindrical and a cylindrical base sealing surface, and further comprising an O-ring between the base sealing surface and the selector sealing surface, the O-ring selectively sealing the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the primary passage in the meter position or the secondary passage in the bypass position. 
     
     
       6. The bypass valve of  claim 1 , wherein in the meter position:
 the primary passage connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter inlet bore; and 
 the secondary passage connects the downstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter outlet bore. 
 
     
     
       7. The bypass valve of  claim 1 , wherein in the bypass position, the secondary passage connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the downstream utility bore. 
     
     
       8. A utility metering system comprising:
 a meter comprising a meter inlet and a meter outlet and configured to measure a fluid flow; and 
 a bypass valve comprising:
 a base defining:
 an upstream utility connector and a downstream utility connector; 
 a base sealing surface; 
 an upstream utility bore connected in fluid communication with with the upstream utility connector 
 a downstream utility bore connected in fluid communication with the downstream utility connector 
 a meter inlet bore connected in fluid communication with the meter inlet; and 
 a meter outlet bore connected in fluid communication with the meter outlet; 
 
 a selector rotatable relative to the base about and between a meter position and a bypass position, the selector defining:
 a selector sealing surface positioned in sealing engagement with the base sealing surface; 
 a primary passage; 
 a secondary passage; 
 a primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the primary passage; 
 a secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the secondary passage, wherein:
 in the meter position, the selector connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter inlet bore; and 
 in the bypass position, the selector connects the upstream utility connector to the downstream utility connector. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The utility metering system of  claim 8 , wherein in the meter position:
 the primary passage connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter inlet bore; and 
 the secondary passage connects the downstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter outlet bore. 
 
     
     
       10. The utility metering system of  claim 8 , wherein in the bypass position, the secondary passage connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the downstream utility bore. 
     
     
       11. The utility metering system of  claim 8 , wherein the base is cylindrical and forms a cylindrical perimeter surface, and wherein the selector is rotatable relative to the base about a rotational axis, and the upstream utility bore, the primary passage bore, and the secondary passage bore each define an axis positioned parallel to the rotational axis. 
     
     
       12. The utility metering system of  claim 8 , wherein the base sealing surface is parallel to the selector sealing surface. 
     
     
       13. The utility metering system of  claim 8 , wherein a continuous fluid path is formed when the selector is in the meter position which extends:
 through the upstream utility bore to the primary passage; 
 through the primary passage to the meter inlet bore; 
 from the meter inlet bore to the meter inlet; 
 through the meter to the meter outlet; 
 from the meter outlet to the meter outlet bore; and 
 from the meter outlet bore through the secondary passage to the downstream utility bore. 
 
     
     
       14. A method for routing a fluid flow through a utility metering system comprising:
 positioning a selector of a bypass valve defining a primary passage and a secondary passage into a metering position, in the meter position, the primary passage connects, in fluid communication, an upstream utility bore defined by a base of the bypass valve and a meter inlet bore, and the secondary passage connects, in fluid communication a meter outlet bore to a downstream utility bore defined by the base, a fluid flow passing from the upstream utility bore through a meter to the downstream utility bore in the metering position; and 
 rotating the selector relative to the base to position the selector in a bypass position, in the bypass position, the secondary passage connects the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the downstream utility bore. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein rotating the selector relative to the base in the bypass position comprises rotating the selector about a rotational axis, and wherein at least one of the upstream utility bore, the primary passage, and the secondary passage defines an axis positioned parallel to the rotational axis. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the base is cylindrical and further comprising rotating the selector relative to the base to position the selector in a shutoff position that blocks the fluid flow of the upstream utility bore from reaching the meter and the downstream utility bore. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising removing the meter from the bypass valve with a fluid flow passing from the upstream utility bore to the downstream utility bore and bypassing the meter when the selector is in the bypass position. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the base is cylindrical and defines a base sealing surface; 
 the upstream utility bore, the downstream utility bore, the meter inlet bore, and the meter outlet bore each extend into the base sealing surface; 
 the selector defines a selector sealing surface; 
 the selector defines at least one primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the primary passage; 
 the selector defines at least one secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the secondary passage; and 
 the base sealing surface is positioned in sealing engagement with the selector sealing surface. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the base sealing surface is parallel to the selector sealing surface. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein an O-ring forms a seal between the base sealing surface and the selector sealing surface.